Remembering Lebanon's Jesse Durbin Ward

Jesse Durbin Ward was born
the son of Jesse and Rebecca Ward on February 11, 1819. His
birthplace was among the beautiful hills on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River
in a small village named Augusta. His middle name was received from the acclaimed
Methodist minister, Dr. John P. Durbin, who was a schoolmate
of his mother's. Jesse elected to be called Durbin
at an early age.
When Durbin was but four years of age the family moved to Fayette
County, Indiana, and purchased a farm close to the town of Ererton. Durbin
attended school in the new country in a log cabin established as a Quaker meetinghouse
that was known as the "Popular Ridge Meeting and Schoolhouse."
His studies were limited so far as the teacher could instruct him. On `is own,
without the aid of instructors, he learned the basics of algebra, geometry and
Latin. Durbin also had a great fondness for his own country and its
history. History as a studied subject was unheard of in the early days of The
Northwest Territory. He, however, pursued his interest of United States history
from its settlement by the white man to the origin of the Constitution.
At a young age he could recite all the presidents in order as well as all the
cabinet officers. This being no great accomplishment, as only eight presidents
had been elected by this time, it was still a stepping-stone and the evolvement
of the lads' interests. Young Ward characterized the same scholarly attitude
in early life that he achieved in later life.
He entered Miami University
in 1838 at the age of nineteen. The university at this time was the leading
educational institution west of the Allegheny Mountains. Here he attended school
two years.
Involving himself in the debating class, he displayed the talent he was in later
life to expand upon.
After his college stint he sought the law profession. However, with no funds
at hand, he had to rely on his own earnings. As a source of revenue he taught
different schools in the country districts of Warren County.
He commenced law practice first under the direction of Judge George
J. Smith, and afterward under the guidance of Governor
Thomas Corwin. Ward joined with Corwin in the law practice for three years
until the formers election to the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Warren County
in 1845. He held this office for six years, performing his duties with devotion
and proficiency.
He was elected a member of the Legislature from the county in 1851. His service
in this capacity lasted but a single term, he declining a reelection.
Ward thrived on hard work and called attention to himself through his speeches
and papers.
He abandoned the Whig party in 1855 and became the Democratic candidate for
Congress the following year. He campaigned for Attorney General in 1858, but
was soundly defeated.Ward afterward followed his vocation as a lawyer and opened
an office in Cincinnati where he developed a relationship with William
M. Ramsey.
When President Lincoln's call for Union volunteers came, Ward was trying a case
at the Warren County courthouse. He quickly drew up a paper containing somewhat
of the following: "We the undersigned, hereby tender our services to the
President of the United States to protect our national flag."
He signed it and proceeded with his case. He was, as is claimed for him, the
first man in his Congressional District to volunteer. Only one or two names
were obtained until after the war meeting at Washington Hall on the evening
of April 16, 1861.
He was a Democrat and a decided opponent of Mr. Lincoln, but the national flag
came first.
Declining a captaincy, he enlisted as a private. He soon became Major
of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and took part in the Battle of Mill
Springs, Corinth, Perryville, Stone's River, Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga. At
the last named battle he was shot through the arm and shoulder, his limb being
disabled for life. Nevertheless, he carried his left arm in a sling through
the entire Atlanta campaign.
Having passed through the ranks of Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel,
he was brevetted Brigadier General in November 1865 for gallant and meritorious
conduct at the Battle of Chickamauga. (There is a national monument in his honor
at the Chickamauga
National Battlefield in Georgia.)
Following the war General Ward traveled the political circle
as a representative of the Democratic Party, making speeches on important public
questions. His distinction on the campaign trail allowed him to become the most
popular campaign orator in Ohio. A volume of his speeches is presently in the
Warren County Historical Society.
His voice was well fitted which commanded the attention of large public assemblies.
He sometimes displayed knowledge on various subjects, continually holding the
attention of the audience. His words were always well chosen and his sentences
well rounded.
In 1866, President Johnson as United States District Attorney
for the Southern District of Ohio appointed him, the same year he married to
Miss Elizabeth Probasco.
In 1870, he was elected Senator in the Ohio General Assembly. General Ward was attacked with rheumatism in the spring of
1885. He was restricted to his room for several weeks. He bounced back for a
brief period, but never fully recovered. The following spring he was again attacked
with the same disease, his home confinement lasting more than eight weeks.General J. Durbin Ward died on May 22, 1886, aged 67 years,
and is buried in the Lebanon cemetery.
After his death it was said by some surviving members of his old regiment that:
"As a soldier, he was as brave as the bravest; as a commander, he was efficient,
always commanding the love and respect of those who had the good fortune to
serve under him."

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